Training and study at work: your rights
Appealing the decision
Employees have the right to appeal if their employer refuses a request to take time off for training or study.
This must be made within 14 days of their employer’s decision.
The appeal must:
- be in writing
- be dated
- set out why they’re appealing - the grounds for the appeal
The appeal meeting
The employer has to arrange a meeting with the employee to discuss the appeal within 14 days of getting the appeal.
The employer must give their decision in writing within 14 days of the meeting.
If the problem is not resolved
If an employee is not satisfied with the result of an appeal they can phone Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) for help and advice or raise a grievance.
Acas
Telephone: 0300 123 1100
Textphone: 18001 0300 123 1100
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
If this does not work, the employee could go to an employment tribunal if the employer:
- did not follow the procedure properly
- refused the request based on the wrong facts
Employment tribunal claims must be made within 3 months of an appeal decision.